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Women fashions change rapidly, but the little black dress introduced by Coco Chanel in 1926 still a dominant fashion statement. There are books such as The Little Black Dress written by Holman Edelman that look into the timeless fashion icon. In 1961 movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the legendary Audrey Hepburn wore a sleeveless dress designed by Edith Head and Hubert de Givenchy which popularized the black dress. Later in 2006, this dress was auctioned for a record $923,187.

The dress is simple yet elegant. Many fashion designers created memorable master pieces with the dress. However, compared to other timeless dresses, the little black dress can be made at a cheaper price to suit anyone’s budget. Even costume jewelry works well with the dress. Therefore, it was available to many across all economic classes.

The little black dress can be layered with other pieces and accessorized for office use, glamorous party as well as to suit any season. It can be worn by woman of any shape, color, size and age. Therefore, it is a timeless beauty.

Lady Diana once wore a black velvet gown to a dinner party at the White House in 1988 and danced with legendary John Travolta.

Retailers are wooing customers into stores in droves. The Barron’s reports that last month (March 2012) sales at apparel stores recorded 8.5 percent increase instead of the expected 4.9 percent. Why the sudden surge in retail?

Spring brings new fashionable colors to the stores. More and more retailors are showing brighter red, orange and yellows. This deviation from once dominated by gray and blue are driving more people into retail stores. The customer psyche is enhanced when they see natural colors of spring at the stores which they see all around them.

On the other hand we have gone through a very rough time during the last year. People were afraid that they or someone closer to them may lose their job. Most of us had to budget finances very carefully. When we come to a point where we see brighter colors, a natural desire to splurge a little dominates our mind. The result is good for the retailer.

The colors of spring are satisfying the human eye rather than sending them away. This year’s brighter colors are bringing more customers to retail stores. Hope the spring will contribute its share to the growth of the economy which was in doldrums.

From prehistoric time to seventeen hundreds, our clothing consists of natural fibers. The development of manufactured fibers mainly linen (also known as flax and mainly used by Europeans), wool and silk came in 1900s. Later cotton was added and became the most common material. These four materials are basic to all varieties that are being used today. However, introduction of polyester, a manufactured fiber, displaced cotton as the main clothing material.

In order to call flax, it must be 100%. Wool is known by more common names such as flannel, broadcloth, polo, or tweed. Silk is also called by several names including satin, velvet, poplin, or chiffon. Cotton on the other hand is known by many names including corduroy, denim, eyelet, jean, percale, muslin, or sateen.

We still have a love affair with hairs of animals such as cashmere which comes from goat, South American alpaca and horsehair.

Plant fibers, mainly hemp and jute, are still play a role.

Weight of a fabric is a main factor in selecting a material. Sheer weight materials are used for lingerie, bridal and hosiery products. Heavier materials weighing more than 600 grams per square meter are used to make winter coats, mats, rugs, upholstery, and carpets.

With winter approaching many of you would be considering purchasing a winter coat. There are many designs and styles available in the market. A well-fitting coat will not only keep you warm and snug but will make you look good as well. Here are some helpful hints to help you select the perfect coat.

Determine your body shape

Look at yourself in the mirror and see if you are a pear or apple shaped, petite, curvy or athletic? When shopping make sure the coat suits your proportions.

Do research on the many coat styles and the ones that suit your body type. This will make it easier for you to make a good choice.

Does it allow enough movement, make sure it does not feel tight when you stretch your arm and are the sleeves are the right length, which is up to your wrist.

Choose a coat that is the right length for you for example if you are petite go for a hip length coat.
A winter coat is a must have during the cold winter weather so spend the time and money to get the perfect coat.

It is a pleasure to see a fashionable and well-dressed person. But we are all prone to make fashion mistakes, even the celebrities who pay many a dollar to stylists. You do not have to spend fortune to dress well, but you need to know how to do it. Here some of the most common mistakes we all make.

Wearing ill-fitting clothes

Dressing in clothes that are too small for you can accentuate your imperfections instead of covering them up, which a proper fitting garment would do. Take the example of a pair of tight low rise jeans which will give you a muffin top unless you have the near perfect figure.

Not dressing for your age

As we age our bodies change, we will not have the same smooth legs and arms a youngster would. It may not be a wise idea to dress in short skirts or shorts. Dress according to age to maintain dignity and elegance.

Not dressing for the occasion

You will not look well dressed, even in a pair of designer jeans at an occasion calling for evening dress and overdressing for the occasion can have the same result.

You have stocked up on all necessary fashion must havs for the summer and enjoying showing off your new swimsuits and other summer gear. Now the time has come for you find out what trends are in for the winter to begin your winter shopping spree! Here are some tips on the latest footwear trends for winter 2012.

Suede boots – This surely does not sound like a sensible option! But the trend for 2011 in treated suede. These boots look and feel just like suede but it is waterproofed, making it perfect for those rainy days. Look for a tag that says “impermeable, winterized or waterproofed”.

Lace-ups- These boots are very much in fashion this winter. There are boots that lace up in the front and some at the back or sides.

Stiletto heels -Stiletto heeled boots in animal prints is a must have accessory for winter

Ballerina pumps in neutral shades or bright colors. Look out for ones that have bows, sparkly crystals and buckles.

Wedge heels – Be it pumps or boots, a wedge heel has been the craze throughout the year and the trend is not going away this winter.

Have you been putting off clearing your closet of all the unwanted things cluttering it? You have an incentive to get started right now.

GAP and Goodwill industries of San Antonio have entered in to a partnership to educate the public on the importance of donation and the impact it has on the world. From May 19-29 GAP stores across USA and Canada will collect clothing donations from you and in return you receive a 30% discount at any GAP store on all items including regular priced as well as sale items. The donated clothes will be given to Goodwill Industries, who in turn will sell these items in their stores throughout San Antonia area.

Goodwill uses 84% of the revenue from these stores to fund job training programs and employment placement services to needy people across USA and Canada. This program enables to extend the life of these clothes while at the same time providing training to people whose lives will be changed by it. It also helps the environment by preventing the clothes from going to landfills.

John Galliano, once touted to be the next “Monsieur Dior” of fashion, has found himself in the news for all the wrong reasons this time for the anti-Semitic and racist remarks that he had made at a Paris bar last week. And now, the man will face up to six months in jail if convicted as he is currently spending time in a rehab facility.

Of course, he also did apologize for his behavior and clearly stated that he is not anti-Semitic but was provoked into making statements in being verbally harassed as well as hit with a chair as the way he looked and the clothing he wore was not accepted well.

And his lawyers have already filed a countersuit on the counts of aggression and defamation against Galliano against the culprits. However, the fashion world has not taken this situation well as Galliano was fired immediately after a video which was taken in October depicted him saying that he loved Hitler and how Jews would have been gassed.

According to the experts, even though there was no doubt that Galliano took the Dior brand into the next century but since the fashion industry hinges on ‘reputation’, it was justifiable that this action had to be taken.

And since he has a reputation for dressing some of Hollywood’s A-listers, and continues to do so, Natalie Portman (being a Jew) is shocked and disgusted by this verbal tirade of Galliano and wants nothing to do with him either.

And while people say that the pressures of the industry have been responsible for his public downfall, the Dior and Galliano catwalk shows will go ahead as scheduled despite this controversy.

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